Page 72 of A Kingdom Restored

He shook his head slowly. “I don’t know. But it’s surely not normal for the king to drop everything and travelthrough the night. What could have been so urgent?”

Merletta, of course, had no answer. On a whim, Heath directed them not out of the castle, but toward Brody’s room.

“Fair warning, I know my cousin’s morning habits, and he’ll probably be a bear at being woken before noon,” he told Merletta.

She looked at him blankly. “What’s a bear?”

Heath was still chuckling when he knocked on a broad wooden door, fully expecting to be met by a ruffled, groggy Brody. His suspicions were instantly raised when Brody appeared, fully dressed and sharp-eyed.

“Heath.” Brody’s eyes flicked between them. “What are you doing here? Did Bianca tell you?”

“Tell me what?” Heath pushed the door all the way open to reveal several of his cousins huddled in conversation on the far side of the sitting room. “Brody, what are you up to?”

“Nothing new,” Brody said calmly. Apparently accepting their presence, he closed the door behind Heath and Merletta. “You know our plans.”

“Bianca thinks there’s a storm coming tonight,” Max piped up excitedly. “And we’ve just found out the king’s away. It’s the perfect opportunity.”

Bianca had stepped forward to greet Merletta—at least one of Heath’s cousins had some semblance of manners—but she turned at Max’s words.

“I do think there’s a storm coming,” she told Heath. “I can sort of…feel it on the wind. We would have told you we were meeting, but we thought you were still away from the capital.”

“Did you?” Heath glanced at Brody’s expression, unconvinced. He frowned at his cousin. “I thought we decided not to do anything drastic until we’d tried every avenue for clearing Percival’s name honestly.”

“Youdecided,” corrected Brody. “We’re not going to pass up an opportunity like this.If no one’s managed to talk the king out of his idiocy in weeks, why would he listen to you?”

Heath took a breath. “Because I have new information for him. About who really attacked him.”

All other conversation in the room ceased, and every eye flew to Heath.

“You’ve found evidence?” Bianca demanded, sounding excited. “What is it?”

Lord Percival? That’s what you requested so urgently to speak about?

King Matlock’s voice in Heath’s head ripped his attention immediately away from his cousins. His vision of the room around him became fuzzy as he was transported in thought to Arinton. He could see the king’s face as clearly as if he was standing next to him, but not any of his surroundings. Judging by the late morning sun on his face, he was outside, but that was all Heath could tell.

Not just him, Your Majesty,responded a smooth, cool voice.I primarily wished to warn you about a new imminent threat. But I would be remiss if I didn’t take the opportunity to urge you to deal with the traitor while you have him in your power. I am amazed that you have let him live this long, given the nature of his crime.

King Matlock didn’t look impressed.I have no need to explain my decisions to you,he reminded his companion. His eyes narrowed.How can I be sure that you are truly the author of the letters I have been receiving? And why, after restricting yourself to correspondence until now, was it so urgent that you meet with me in person?

I have no proof to offer you beyond my information.There was a placating edge to the other man’s words. Heath wished desperately that he could see his face.But who else would know the contents of my warnings? As for the urgency, I have reason to suspect that there is a new plot against your life. Is there someone among the power-wielders by the name of Heath?

Heath’s heart lurched, dread filling him. He didn’t know the identity or agenda of the king’s companion, but being mentioned by name couldn’t be a good thing.

Heath?repeated King Matlock, a slightly defensive edge to his voice.Lord Percival’s brother is named Heath. But he’s the only one of the power-wielders I trust. In point of fact, he’s not a true power-wielder. His magic is so weak it achieves nothing but giving him a place in the family, which he has used faithfully in his role as liaison. It was he who thwarted his brother’s attempt on my life.

Indeed.The other man didn’t skip a beat.According to my information, he has had a change of heart.

And what information is that?King Matlock’s voice and face gave nothing away—without being actually present to read the king with his magic, it was impossible for Heath to tell whether King Matlock was buying the stranger’s story.

That Heath has brought a member of the Dragonfriend line we spoke of into Valoria itself, with the intention of turning her considerable magic against you.

Her?repeated King Matlock.

She is a young woman,the other man confirmed.From the island we’ve spoken of, off the coast of Thorania. The strongest of the exiled line of Dragonfriends. She has recently arrived in Valoria, with the aid of a renegade dragon. Her magic is fearsome and strong, bent toward destruction. I came to you in haste the moment I became aware—my sources say that she is to use her magic to free the prisoner, then combine her powers with his and Heath’s to finish the task of vacating the throne of Valoria.If you want to stop them, you must eliminate the girl before she can join forces with Lord Percival. And of course you would be wise not to delay carrying out his sentence.

The king was silent for a moment, and Heath could hardly breathe. There could be absolutely no question who this man’s lies referred to. The only question was whether King Matlock already knew of Merletta’s arrival. If he’d learned of it before leaving Bryford, it would go a long way to making the stranger’s story sound credible.

You claim these power-wielders are determined to seize the throne,King Matlock said unemotionally.That they believe their magic gives them the right. Well, I thinkyouhave magic. I think perhaps you are one of them, with grand expectations of your own.

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